Dick Roughsey (Goobalathaldin) (1920-1985) was born on Mornington
Island, Queensland, and named Goobalathaldin. A member of the
Lardil 'tribe', he was one of five brothers and grew up in an
Aboriginal family clan, leading a traditional lifestyle.
Aged eight Goobalathaldin was sent to a mission and given the name
Dick. Educated at the mission school until he was thirteen,
Roughsey then worked as a stockman on southern Gulf of Carpentaria
cattle stations.
In the 1960s Roughsey and his elder brother Lindsay (Burrud)
initiated a style of bark painting depicting Lardil sacred
histories. After meeting airline pilot, Percy Trezise, Roughsey
developed a finer painting technique that resulted in him creating
the now-classic picture books, The Giant Devil Dingo (1973) and The
Rainbow Serpent (1974).
Roughsey won the CBCA Book of the Year awards in 1976 and 1979. He
was the founding chairman (1973-76) of the Australian Council for
the Arts's Aboriginal Arts Board, and from 1974-75 served on the
council of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
